Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.
1. A system, comprising: an edge machine comprising a processor, and computer memory holding computer program instructions executed by the processor; and a translator machine located remotely from the edge machine and comprising a processor, and computer memory holding computer program instructions that comprise an HTTP proxy, and a translator process, the HTTP proxy and the translator process interacting with one another over a shared memory in the translator machine; wherein the HTTP proxy is configured to perform partial object caching (POC) of raw data fragments comprising a requested stream, and wherein the translator process is configured to generate and provide a stream manifest, an index and one or more media fragments to facilitate delivery by the edge machine of the requested stream; wherein information comprising the requested stream is stored in association with the translator machine in an intermediate format that differs from a target format of the requested stream as delivered by the edge machine; wherein, in response to receipt at the HTTP proxy of the translator machine of a request for the stream manifest issued from the edge machine and that the HTTP proxy can service directly, the HTTP proxy returns the stream manifest; and wherein, in response to receipt at the HTTP proxy of the request for the stream manifest that the HTTP proxy cannot service directly, the HTTP proxy forwards the request together with a unique host header to the translator process over a localhost connection and the shared memory, wherein a response returned to the HTTP proxy by the translator process also carries the unique host header.
2. The system as described in claim 1 wherein the intermediate format is a fragmented MP4 format.
A system for processing and transmitting video data uses an intermediate format to optimize storage and transmission efficiency. The system converts video data into a fragmented MP4 format, which allows for efficient streaming and partial access to the video content. The fragmented MP4 format enables selective retrieval of specific segments of the video without requiring the entire file to be downloaded or processed. This is particularly useful in applications where bandwidth or storage constraints are a concern, such as video-on-demand services, live streaming, or mobile video playback. The fragmented MP4 format also supports adaptive bitrate streaming, allowing the system to dynamically adjust the quality of the video stream based on network conditions. The system may include components for encoding, fragmenting, and transmitting the video data, as well as a client-side module for reassembling and playing the fragmented video segments. The use of fragmented MP4 ensures compatibility with standard media players and streaming protocols while improving efficiency in video delivery.
3. The system as described in claim 1 wherein the intermediate format comprises the stream manifest, a set of one or more fragment indexes (FI), and a set of IF fragments, each IF fragment identified by a fragment number and comprising a header and a payload.
This invention relates to a system for processing and transmitting media content in an intermediate format. The system addresses the challenge of efficiently delivering media streams by breaking content into smaller, manageable segments while maintaining synchronization and accessibility. The intermediate format includes a stream manifest, a set of fragment indexes (FI), and a set of intermediate format (IF) fragments. The stream manifest provides metadata about the media stream, such as its structure and timing. The fragment indexes (FI) organize the IF fragments, allowing for quick access and retrieval. Each IF fragment contains a header and a payload. The header includes information like the fragment number, which uniquely identifies the fragment within the stream. The payload carries the actual media data, such as video or audio segments. This structured approach enables efficient storage, transmission, and playback of media content, particularly in adaptive streaming scenarios where different quality levels or network conditions may require dynamic adjustments. The system ensures that media fragments are properly indexed and accessible, facilitating seamless playback and reducing buffering delays. The use of fragment numbers and headers allows for precise tracking and synchronization of media segments, improving overall streaming performance.
4. The system as described in claim 3 wherein the stream manifest comprises stream metadata, and information about the one or more fragment indexes.
A system for managing and accessing media streams includes a stream manifest that organizes and provides metadata about the media content. The stream manifest contains stream metadata, which describes characteristics of the media stream such as encoding format, resolution, and duration. Additionally, the stream manifest includes information about one or more fragment indexes, which are used to locate and retrieve specific segments or fragments of the media stream. These fragment indexes allow for efficient playback and navigation within the media stream, enabling features such as adaptive bitrate streaming, where the quality of the stream can be adjusted based on network conditions or user preferences. The system ensures that the stream manifest is dynamically updated to reflect changes in the media content or fragment availability, ensuring accurate and up-to-date information for media playback. This approach improves the reliability and performance of media streaming services by providing structured access to media fragments and their associated metadata.
5. The system as described in claim 4 wherein a fragment index comprises information identifying a key frame associated with a given time slice, a key frame-to-fragment number mapping, a key frame-to-time mapping, and a key frame-to-byte offset in a key frame-to-fragment number mapping.
This invention relates to video processing systems, specifically for indexing and retrieving video fragments efficiently. The system addresses the challenge of managing large video datasets by organizing video content into key frames and fragments, enabling fast access to specific segments of video data. The system includes a fragment index that stores multiple types of mappings to facilitate precise retrieval. The index contains information identifying a key frame associated with a given time slice, allowing users to locate specific moments in the video. Additionally, the index includes a key frame-to-fragment number mapping, which links each key frame to its corresponding fragment in the video data. A key frame-to-time mapping provides the exact timestamp for each key frame, ensuring accurate temporal navigation. Finally, the index includes a key frame-to-byte offset mapping, which specifies the byte position of each key frame within its fragment, enabling efficient data access. These mappings work together to allow rapid retrieval of video fragments based on time, frame, or byte offset, improving the performance of video editing, playback, and analysis applications. The system is particularly useful in applications requiring precise video segmentation, such as video editing software, surveillance systems, and media archiving.
6. The system as described in 4 wherein fragment numbers associated with a set of IF fragments are consecutive.
The invention relates to a system for managing and processing information fragments (IF fragments) in a data processing environment. The problem addressed is the efficient organization and retrieval of fragmented data, particularly ensuring that fragment numbers within a set of IF fragments are consecutive. This improves data integrity, reduces errors in data reconstruction, and enhances system performance by simplifying the handling of fragmented data. The system includes a mechanism for assigning and tracking fragment numbers to IF fragments, ensuring that within any given set, these numbers are consecutive. This consecutive numbering helps in maintaining a logical sequence, making it easier to identify missing or out-of-order fragments. The system may also include components for storing, retrieving, and reconstructing data from these fragments, leveraging the consecutive numbering to streamline these operations. By enforcing consecutive fragment numbering, the system prevents gaps or overlaps in the data sequence, which can lead to data corruption or loss. This is particularly useful in applications where data is divided into fragments for storage, transmission, or processing, such as distributed systems, file storage solutions, or data backup systems. The consecutive numbering also facilitates faster data reconstruction, as the system can quickly detect and address any inconsistencies in the fragment sequence. Overall, the invention provides a robust method for managing fragmented data, ensuring reliability and efficiency in data handling operations.
7. The system as described in claim 1 wherein the information identified in the request is one of: the stream manifest, the index, and a media fragment.
A system for managing and retrieving media content in streaming applications addresses the challenge of efficiently accessing and processing different types of media data. The system includes a request processing module that receives requests for media content and identifies specific information within those requests. This identified information can be a stream manifest, which provides metadata about available media streams, an index that maps segments of the media content, or a media fragment, which is a portion of the actual media data. The system dynamically processes these requests to retrieve the requested information, ensuring that the appropriate data is delivered based on the type of request. This allows for flexible and efficient media streaming, enabling users to access different components of media content as needed. The system optimizes the retrieval process by distinguishing between manifests, indexes, and fragments, ensuring that the correct data is provided in response to each request. This approach enhances the performance and reliability of media streaming applications by streamlining the handling of various media-related data types.
8. The system as described in claim 1 wherein the unique host header ensures that content delivered from the HTTP proxy to the edge machine is associated with a particular entity.
This invention relates to a system for managing content delivery in a network environment, specifically addressing the challenge of ensuring that content routed through an HTTP proxy is correctly associated with the intended entity. The system includes an HTTP proxy that receives content requests from edge machines, which are typically distributed network nodes closer to end-users. The proxy processes these requests and delivers content back to the edge machines. A key feature is the use of a unique host header in the HTTP requests, which acts as an identifier to ensure that the content delivered from the proxy to the edge machine is specifically linked to a particular entity. This entity could be a content provider, a service, or another network component. The unique host header prevents misrouting or misassociation of content, ensuring that each entity receives only the content intended for it. The system may also include mechanisms for validating the host header to confirm its authenticity and correctness, further enhancing security and reliability in content delivery. This approach is particularly useful in large-scale distributed networks where multiple entities share infrastructure, as it ensures proper content isolation and routing.
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March 24, 2020
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